With 2013 in the past, it’s once again time to share some of my favorite images from the year.
As always, it’s easy for photographers to get attached to their images for a variety of reasons. Some images may have been technically challenging to create and required significant planning and anticipation. Others simply captured an excellent moment.
My first round of edits left me with near 100 images. I was able to whittle it down to 45 that I really enjoyed for one reason or another. Of those, here are some of my absolute favorites. It seems like 2013 was a good year for me to capture reactions.
Second runner-up Serena Holdosh (left) smiles as Megan Magee of South Beloit reacts after being named queen Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013, during the Winnebago County Fair Queen Pageant at the fairgrounds in Pecatonica. MAX GERSH/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR ©2013
Kinley Kibling, 3, of Belvidere, drops a Cheeto she was trying to feed a goose after it startled her Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013, at the Boone County Fair in Belvidere. MAX GERSH/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR ©2013
Winnebago fans Reid Shellhorn (left), 8, and his friend Austin Lancaster, 9, cheer on the Indians Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, during a game against Lutheran at Winnebago High School. MAX GERSH/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR ©2013
Boylan’s Brendan Schumaker (14) celebrates after kicking the extra point that secured the Titan’s win over the Indians Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, during a game at Hononegah High School in Rockton. MAX GERSH/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR ©2013
Belvidere half back and defensive back Maurice Jackson, 17, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013, in Rockford. MAX GERSH/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR ©2013
Boylan middle linebacker Zackary Mathews, 17, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, at Boylan’s stadium in Rockford. MAX GERSH/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR ©2013
Jace Bankord, 17, quarterback for Belvidere North, photographed Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013, at the Rockford Register Star in Rockford. MAX GERSH/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR ©2013
Rockford Fire’s Timm Bragg runs in the 9 and 10-year-old boys 100 meter dash Saturday, July 20, 2013, during the fifth annual USA Track and Field Fire Invitational at Auburn High School in Rockford. MAX GERSH/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR ©2013
Smoke billows out of an airplane fuselage while volunteer victim Bryce Shaner, 18, of Lanark, lies on the concrete Saturday, May 4, 2013, during a mock plane crash drill at the Chicago Rockford International Airport. MAX GERSH/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR ©2013
A hazardous material team from MABAS Division 8 works to cap a pipe leaking anhydrous ammonia belonging to Conserv FS on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at the Winnebago County Farm Bureau in Rockford. Making the task difficult for emergency personnel was the fact that the gas’s temperature was 150 degrees below zero. MAX GERSH/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
You can see the full take of images on my newspaper’s website which includes Amy J. Correnti, Brent Lewis and Scott Morgan’s photos as well.